12 Tips to Finding an Animal Clinic

Whether it’s the addition of a new puppy or kitten to family, relocating to a new neighborhood, or just looking for another veterinarian alternative, finding the perfect animal clinic for a pet can be a difficult task for pet owners. Not all animal clinics are the same, and finding one that fits a pet’s needs is very important, so when searching for a new clinic here are 12 tips to consider:

1. What are the hours of operation of the animal clinic? Are the hours convenient for you? Animal clinics tend to vary in their hours of operation.
2. Does the clinic have a veterinarian on call for emergencies? If not, what are you supposed to do in case of an emergency? Do they have a list of emergency animal clinics that they recommend?
3. Are you able to take a tour of the animal clinic? Some animal clinics will be able to set up a time to accommodate you to take a look around.
4. Is the animal clinic clean? How does it smell? Is it organized? Does it have a good size waiting room so you and your pet are comfortable?
5. Is the staff friendly? Were you greeted when you walked in, or were they too busy to acknowledge your presence?
6. How many veterinarians work in the animal clinic? Are there several vets to choose from or just one? Do any of the vets specialize in a certain area, such as orthopedics, or are they general practitioners?
7. What type of pets does the clinic see? Do they see dogs and cats? Do they also see pocket pets? Some animal clinics will only see specific types of pets.
8. What type of equipment does the animal clinic have? Do they have an X-ray machine? Ultrasound? Or will you have to be referred to a specialty animal clinic for those procedures?
9. Does the clinic have a ramp in case your dog has problems walking? All animal clinics should have a ramp.
10. Is it easy to get in and out of the clinic? Is there enough room to move about freely, or does the clinic get crowded fast?
11. Is the parking adequate? Does the clinic have enough parking spots to accommodate their clients on a busy day? No one wants to pull into an animal clinic and have to wait for a parking spot to open up.
12. Was the animal clinic recommended by someone that you know? Most people only recommended animal clinics that they have had good experiences with.

When finding an animal clinic for your pet, it’s important to ask the above questions and take your time. Hopefully, you will find the perfect clinic to fit you and your pets needs for many years to come.